Drag Illustrated Issue 152, January 2020 | Page 83

[ NHRA NOSTALGIA A/FUEL ]
Drew A ustin
D
rew Austin didn’ t mince
words when describing what his
2019 has been life. “It’s been the best
year of my life,” Austin says.
There’s a lot that factors into that, starting
with the birth of his son, Rhett, in March and
ending with his second straight NHRA Nostalgia
A/Fuel championship.
Just like Austin was at the track with his dad,
legendary racer Pat Austin, Drew’s son was at
the track within months of being born. His first
race in Phoenix was also a race that Austin won,
with Rhett joining him in the car in the ride back
to the pits after the winning run. It’s a moment
that will stick with Austin forever.
“Every time my dad would win, I would sit in the
car and ride back with him,” Austin says. “I brought
my son to Phoenix and that was the first race he
was at and we won. He sat in the car with me on
the way back, was playing with the shifter. It was
just really special and something you dream of.”
Austin and his team were on point all year and
they had to be after missing the March Meet due
to Rhett’s birth. From there, though, Austin was
nearly unbeatable, winning three of the final five
races, advancing to four finals and qualifying No.
1 at every race but one.
It was just enough to slip past longtime rival
and multi-time champ Kin Bates, giving Aus-
tin back-to-back championships and one in-
credible year.
“We just knew we had to win, but with Dad
knowing the car so well we had the confidence
to make it happen,” Austin says. “We put it all
together with knowing what the car likes, and
we were just confident we could do it. Win-
ning that first championship was something I
always wanted to do, but this one is very, very
special.” – JOSH HACHAT
DI DI DI
DI DI DI DI
DI DI DI
Anita Mäkelä
Ja n u a r y 2 0 2 0
FIA TOP FUEL
//
Jan Ericsson
FIA PRO MODIFIED
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